APAR status
Closed as program error.
Error description
Error Message: N/A . Stack Trace: Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException at java.lang.StringBuffer.(StringBuffer.java:148) at com.ibm.security.krb5.KrbTgsRep.(KrbTgsRep.java:66) at com.ibm.security.krb5.KrbTgsReq.getReply(KrbTgsReq.java:247) at com.ibm.security.krb5.KrbTgsReq.sendAndGetCreds(KrbTgsReq.java:2 54) at com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.CredentialsUtil.serviceCreds(Cred entialsUtil.java:319) at com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.CredentialsUtil.serviceCredsRefer rals(CredentialsUtil.java:376) at com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.CredentialsUtil.serviceCreds(Cred entialsUtil.java:340) at com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.CredentialsUtil.getTGTforRealm(Cr edentialsUtil.java:212) at com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.CredentialsUtil.acquireServiceCre ds(CredentialsUtil.java:163) at com.ibm.security.krb5.Credentials.acquireServiceCreds(Credential s.java:279) at com.ibm.security.jgss.mech.krb5.Krb5Context.initSecContext(Krb5C ontext.java:324) at com.ibm.security.jgss.GSSContextImpl.initSecContext(GSSContextIm pl.java:308) at com.ibm.security.jgss.GSSContextImpl.initSecContext(GSSContextIm pl.java:272) at com.ibm.security.sasl.gsskerb.GssKrb5Client.evaluateChallenge(Un known Source) .
Local fix
The NullPointerException is not the root cause of the problem. The root cause is that the Ticket Granting Service reply from the Key Distribution Center cannot be parsed.
Problem summary
Kerberos throws a NullPointerException when a Ticket Granting Service Reply from KDC (KrbTgsRep) cannot be parsed and the associated KRBError has null for message text.
Problem conclusion
The Kerberos code was modified to check for null message text. The associated Hursley RTC Problem Report is 153905 The associated Austin GIT defect in IBMJGSS#154 The associated Austin APAR is N/A JVMs affected: Java 8.0 The fix was delivered for: Java 8 sr8 fp65 (20250627-465) The affected jar is ibmjgssprovider.jar . This APAR will be fixed in the following Releases: . IBM Semeru Runtimes IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition 8 SR8 FP65 (8.0.8.65) . Downloads and supplementary documentation can be found at the following locations: - For non z/OS operating systems: - IBM Semeru Runtimes, Version 11 and later https://www.ibm.com/semeru-runtimes/downloads/ - IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 8 https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/java-sdk-downloads/ - For the z/OS operating system: - Java SDK Products on z/OS https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/java-sdk-products-zos
Temporary fix
Comments
APAR Information
APAR number
IJ57596
Reported component name
SECURITY
Reported component ID
620700125
Reported release
270
Status
CLOSED PER
PE
NoPE
HIPER
NoHIPER
Special Attention
NoSpecatt / Xsystem
Submitted date
2026-03-11
Closed date
2026-03-11
Last modified date
2026-03-11
APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:
APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:
Fix information
Fixed component name
SECURITY
Fixed component ID
620700125
Applicable component levels
[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU054","label":"Systems w\/TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SSNVBF","label":"Runtimes for Java Technology"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"270","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB08","label":"Cognitive Systems"}}]
Document Information
Modified date:
11 March 2026